The Crazies (1973)

After jumping into the Sci fi/horror genre with Pandorum, it was time to get back into something more normal for me. My choice was The Crazies from 1973. As a huge George Romero fan, it was definitely a great way to go back to his roots, before he was the zombie master.

Plot/ A biological weapon gone awry is only the start of problems in the little town of Evan's City, Pennsylvania. Bouts of insanity in the populace are leading to murder and rioting, until the US Army turns up - and things really start going to hell.

While this is not a “Zombie” film, many of the elements that made Romero’s zombie epics are at work in this 1973 low-budget classic. With that being said, like in many budget-limited flicks, the production values and quality of acting do suffer. Still, Romero’s genius and ability to craft a movie full of social construct is clear. One of the best parts of this to me was the use of very quick scenes that jump between military and townspeople; this does a great job at setting a chaotic mood and a solid pace. Overall, this is a fine movie and a must see for Romero fans. It is not as good as his first three "Dead" movies, but it is still a very solid film.